British scientists are aiming to develop portable devices for taking air samples near items such as sculptures, tapestries and books to help learn more about them. The three-year Heritage Smells project, led by the University of Strathclyde, hopes to see whether air surrounding the objects contains anything that could be used to understand their composition or condition. Museums and collectors could use technology to assess collections without touching the objects. Dr Lorraine Gibson, of the University of Strathclyde, said: "We all know that when we walk into a library there is a very distinct musty smell but we want to know what creates the smell and what it tells us about the objects stored inside."